Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 5 : 4 April 2005

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A COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY ON THE FORMATION OF COMPOUND VERBS IN TAMIL S. Rajendran, Ph.D.

1. Introduction

Compounding in an important process
in the word-building mechanism in Tamil. It raises many issues relating
to morphology, syntax and lexicon. A prototypical compound is a word made
up of at least two bases which can occur elsewhere as independent words.
Compounding represents the interface between morphology and syntax par excellence.
Compounds have two sets of characteristic properties. The first set makes
compounding resemble syntax and the second set brings compounding closer
to word formation. The head-modifier, predicate-argument, and oppositional
relations together with constituent structure all tend to align compounding
with syntax. However, compounds also have a number of features which make
them resemble words. First compounds are lexicalized. They are then often
subject to semantic shift of a kind associated with stored words, which
means that their meaning becomes non-compositional or even totally idiosyncratic.
This type of drift is characteristic of all types of compounding. In a related
fashion, there are often lexical restrictions on which compounds are permitted,
resulting in paradigmatic gaps which resemble those found in derivational
or inflectional affixation. A further property which links compounds with
the words is that of non-referentiality. If we look at the non-heads of
the compounds, we find that they never refer to specific objects. The constituents
of compounds differ from constituents of sentences. Related to this is the
fact that non-heads of compounds typically fail to be inflected. One property
of words which distinguishes them from phrase is morphological integrity:
their elements can not be split up by other words or phrases. This is generally
true of constituents of compounds. It is not uncommon for the compounds
they form to become so lexicalized that the element loses its status as
an independent word and becomes a clitic or an affix. Finally, there are
often phonological processes that apply to compounds but not to phrases.

The compound verbs are formed from
a base by the addition of a verb which function as the verbalizer or whose
function is to verbalize the base. The bases are generally nouns. Even a
verb can be compounded with a verbalizing verb to form another verb. It
can be stated that there is no productive verbalizing suffix in Tamil. The
verbalizing suffix -i which was in use to form verbs from Sanskrit
noun stems is no longer in use. Only compounding is extensively used in
the formation of verbs in Tamil.

There are a number of verbs
which are used to form verbs from nouns. Not all nouns will be added to
a verbalizer and conversely not all verbalizers can be added to a noun;
only a closed set of nouns can be collocated with a particular verbalizer.
The compounds could be overlapping in their meaning as same nouns can be
collocated with overlapping group of verbs. This leads to synonymy among
compound verbs. Though the formation of verbs from N + V combination is
a productive process, the nouns involved in the formation of compound verbs
with reference to a particular verbalizer appears to be a closed set rather
than an open set. But it is possible to recruit new members to a closed
set which makes the process productive. Because of the closed nature of
the nouns participating in the compound formation which results in the idiosyncratic
nature of the resultant meanings, there need to be the listing of the compounds
in the dictionary as soon as the compounds come into vogue. Instead of talking
in terms of sets of nouns it is possible to talk in terms of semantic area
or domain to which the nouns belong.

Rajendran (1978), Agesthialingom
(1981:15-60), and Karthikeyan (1983) can be considered as important works
on compound verbs in Tamil. Compound verbs listed in kriyavin tarkalat
tamir akarati (KTTA) (Dictionary of Contemporary Tamil) have also been
taken into consideration while dealing about the compound verb formation
in Tamil. The strategies used in the formation of compound verbs in Tamil
will be investigated here.

2. Differentiating Compound
Verbs From Phrases

The first and the foremost issue
here is to differentiate compounds, here is this context the compound verbs,
from phrases. It is generally agreed upon that compounds are the units
of lexicon and the phrases are the units of syntax. The following are the
questions which could be raised about this issue:

1) How to differentiate compounds
from phrases as both of them contain words?

2) How differentiate the rules
of compounding from the rules of forming syntactic phrases?

It is not always obvious when
we have a compound verb. Orthographic conventions offer limited help in
distinguishing compounds form phrases. Some compound verbs are written
as a single word (ex. accuRuttu ‘threaten’ (<accam ‘fear’
+ uRuttu ‘cause trouble’) some are written as single as well as a
bipartite unit (ex. vicaaraNai cey,vicaaraNaicey ‘interrogate’).
Karthikeyan (1983) lists the following tests to differentiate compound verbs
from the phrase N + V.

2.1 Insertion Test

It is generally agreed that
it is not possible to insert an element (with the exception of clitics)
between the base and the verbalizer.

TaakTar ndooyaLiyaik kuNappaTuttinaar
'the doctor cured the patient'

*TaakTar ndooyaaLiyaik kuNattai
paTuttinaar

*TaakTar ndooyaLiyaik kuNam
ndanRaakap paTuttinaar

The reliability
on the test suffers to some extent as there exist compound verbs in which
the nouns are inflected for case. They can be considered as phrases which
are lexicalized into compounds or phrasal words as they have acquired idiosyncratic
or idiomatic meaning.

2.2 Synonymy Test

There is a possibility of finding
simple verbs as synonyms for compound verbs in the same language or any
other language.

Compound verbsSynonymous simple verbs

kolai paNNu 'kill'
kol 'kill'

kaatal cey 'love'
kaatali 'love'

uraiyaaTu 'talk'
peecu 'talk'

vaataaTu 'argue'
argue

kuuRiTu 'divide'
divide

2.3 Attribute Test

It is not possible to attribute
a noun of a compound verb by attributes such as adjectives, relative participles
and genitives.

*ndalla uraiyaaTinaar 'good
talked-he'

*iraNTu uraiyaaTinaar 'two
talked-he'

*ennuTaiya uraiyaaTinaar
'my talked-he'

2.4. Coordination Test

Two noun phrases can be coordinated
by a coordinator. But nouns which form bases of compounds cannot be coordinated
in the same fashion.

ndaan raamanai aTitteen 'I
beat Rama'

ndaan kaNNanai aTitteen '
I beat Kannan'

ndaan raamanaiyum kaNNanaiyum
aTitteen 'I beat Rama and Kannan

[-um is a clitic which
functions as a coordinator.]

avan tandti aTittaan 'he
gave a telegram'

avan Taip aTittaan 'he
typed'

*avan tandtiyum Taippum aTittaan

[tandti 'telegram', Taip
'typing', aTi 'beat']

Only compound verbs can be coordinated
as follows.

avan tandti aTikkavum Taip
aTikkavum ceytaan

'he gave telegram and performed
typing'

The fact that the nouns of compound
verbs cannot be coordinated shows that the N + V combination functions as
a single unit.

2.5 Substitution Test

The simple verbs can be substituted
by the phrase enna cey 'do what?' as given in the following example.

kumar paNattai tiruTinaan
'Kumar stole the money'

kumar paNattai enna ceytaan
'what did Kumar do to money?'

In the same fashion compound
verb can be substituted by the phrase enna cey. But the verb which
forms the constituent element of a compound verb cannot be substituted in
the same fashion by the phrase enna cey 'do what?'.

kumar paNattai viiNaTittaan
'Kumar wasted the money'

*kumar paNattai viiN enna
ceytaan?

All the above mentioned five
tests can be utilized to establish or reject a N + V combination as a compound
verb and none of them guarantees a full proof as the degree of cohesion
existing between the bases and the verbalizers varies.

3. Degree Of Cohesion

Though it is said that no element
can be inserted between the constituent parts (base and verbalizing verb)
of a compound verb, it is possible to resort to insertion in some compound
verbs. This leads us to conclude that the degree of cohesion existing between
the base and verbalizer varies. In some compounds the constituent verbs
can be converted into relative participle forms which stand to attribute
the constituent nouns.

Compound VerbRelative participle form + N

tunpappaTu 'suffer'
paTTa tunpam 'the suffering which is underwent'

kaSappaTu 'suffer'
paTTa kaSTam 'the suffering which is underwent'

utavi cey 'help'
ceyta utavi 'the help which is done'

tiirmanam cey 'decide'
ceyta tiirmaanam 'decision which is made'

We can infer that the cohesion
between noun and verb in the above compound verbs is weak. But conversion
of N + V into relative participle form + N is not possible in the case of
certain compound verbs.

Compound Verb
Relative participle form + N

caattiyappaTu 'be
possible *paTTa caattiyam

kuNappaTuttu 'cure
' *paTuttiya kuNam

kaali cey 'empty'
*ceyta kaali

We can infer that
the cohesion between noun and verb in the above compound verbs is strong.

4. The Formation Of Compound
Verbs

The following points have to
be explored here:

1. Compound verb formation
rules

2. The bases and the verbalizers
which are involved in compound verb formation

3. Specific nature of the rules
of compound verb formation

4. The productivity of the
rules of compound verb formation

5. Lexicalization of the compound
verb formation

4.1. Compound Verb Formation
Rules

The formation of compound verb
can be captured by a general rule of the following:

Base + verbalizer -> Compound
verb

As noted already the bases could
be nouns or particles. Accordingly the above general rule can be specified
into the following rules:

Noun + verbalizer ->
Compound verb

Particle + verbalizer ->
Compound verb

Apart from nouns and particles,
ceytu-type of verbal forms, ceyya-type of verbal forms and
case inflected nouns can come before a verbalizing verb to form compounds.

Base forms the first constituent
of a compound verb. As the compound verbs fulfil the immediate need of the
Tamil speakers, the bases are extracted not only from Tamil source but also
from other languages like Sanskrit and English. In modern Tamil, a lot of
English bases are used by the educated people.

Compound verbs with bases from
Tamil source

payiRci
'training'+ aLi > payirciyaLi 'train'

viTai 'farewell'
+ koTu > viTaikoTu 'bid farewell'

ndiccal 'swimming'+
aTi > ndiiccalaTi 'swim'

Compound verbs with bases
from Sanskrit source

kopam 'anger'
+ paTu > kopappaTu 'feel angry'

candtooSam
'happiness' + paTu > cantooSappaTu 'feel happy'

vicaaraNai
'investigation' + cey > vicaaraNai cey 'investigate'

Compound verbs with bases from
English source

areenj
'arrange' + paNNu > areenj paNNu 'arrange'

avuT 'out' + aaku
> avuTaaku 'exit'

aTmiT 'admit'
+ cey > aTmiTcey 'admit'

The bases are borrowed as nouns
even if they belong to different grammatical category in the source language.

aakT 'act' + paNNu
> aakTpaNNu 'act'

aap 'off' +
paNNu > aappaNNu 'put off'

in 'in' + paNNu
> inpaNNu 'tug in'

'Act' is a verb in English which
is borrowed as a noun in Tamil; 'off' and 'in' are prepositions in English
which are borrowed in Tamil as nouns. The base which forms the constituent
of a compound can belong to any one of the following grammatical categories:
noun, particle, onomatopoeic word. The noun could be simple, compound or
derived.

There are thirty nine verbs
which can be claimed to function as verbalizers to form compound verbs from
bases.

Sl.No

Verbalizers with core meaning

Examples of Compound verbs in
which the verbalizers form a part

1

aTi 'beat'

kaN 'eye' + aTi > kaNNaTi
'wink'

2

aTai 'get'

muTivu 'end' + aTai >
muTivaTai 'come to an end'

3

aLi 'give'

paricu 'prize' + aLi >
paricaLi 'award'

4

aaku 'become'

veLi 'outside + aaku >
veLiyaaku 'come out'

5

aakku 'produce'

cooRu 'cooked rice' + aakku
> cooRaakku 'cook rice’

6

aaTu 'move'

kuuttu 'drama' + aaTu >
kuuttaaTu 'act'

7

aaTTu
'swing'

ciir 'orderliness' + aTTu >
ciiraaTTu 'tend lovingly'

8

aaRRu 'perform'

paNi 'work' + aaRRu >
paNiyaaRRu 'work'

9

iTu 'put'

paarvai 'look' + iTu >
parvaiyiTu 'inspect'

10

uRu 'obtain'

keLvi 'hearsay' + uRu >
keeLviyuRu 'get to know'

11

uRuttu 'trouble'

tunpam 'suffering' + uRuttu
> tunpuRuttu 'cause suffering'

12

uuTTu 'give'

ndinaivu 'rememberance' + uuTTu
> ndinaivuuTTu 'remind'

13

eTu 'take'

ooyvu 'rest' + eTu > ooyveTu
'take rest'

14

eytu 'obtain'

maraNam 'death' + eytu >
maraNameytu 'die'

15

eel 'accept'

patavi 'position' + eel >
pataviyeel 'take office'

16

eeRu 'rise'

cuuTu 'heat' + eeRu >
cuuTeeRu 'become hot'

17

erru 'raise'

veLi 'outside' + eeRRu >
veLiyeeRRu 'expel'

18

kaTTu 'tie'

iiTu 'compensation' + kaTTu
> iiTukaTTu 'make up'

19

kaaTTu 'show'

aacai 'desire' + kaaTTu 'show'
> aacaikaaTtu 'lure; tempt'

20

kuuRu 'say'

puRam 'back' + kuuRu >
purangkuuRu 'backbite’

21

koTu 'give'

peeccu 'conversation' + koTu
> peeccukkoTu 'initiate a talk'

22

koL 'get'

toTarpu 'contact' + koL >
totarpu koL 'contact'

23

cey 'do'

vicaaraNai 'investigation' +
cey > vicaaraNai cey 'investigate'

24

col 'say'

kooL 'lie' + col > kooL col
'tell tale'

25

taTTu 'pat'

maTTam 'substandard'
+taTTu>maTTam taTTu 'degrade'

26

paTu 'experience'

veTkam 'shyness' + paTu >
veTkappaTu 'feel shy'

27

paTuttu 'cause to experience'

tunpam 'suffering' + paTuttu
>tunpappaTuttu 'cause to suffer'

28

paNNu 'do'

yoocanai 'thinking' + paNNu >
yoocanai paNNu 'think'

29

paar 'see'

veevu 'spying' + paar >
veevupaar 'spy'

30

piTi 'catch'

aTam 'obstinacy' + piTi >
aTampiTi 'become obstinate'

31

puri 'do'

maNam 'marriage' + puri >
maNampuri 'marry'

32

peRu 'get'

ooyvu 'rest' + peRu > ooyvu peRu 'retire (from service)'

33

poo 'go'

cooram 'adultery' + poo >
coorampoo 'commit adultary'

34

pooTu 'drop'

cattam 'sound' + pooTu >
cattam pooTu 'shout'

35

muuTTu 'make'

koopam 'anger' + muuTTu >
koopamuuTTu 'cause anger'

36

vaa 'come'

valam 'right' + vaa >
valamvaa 'go round'

37

vaangku 'get'

veelai + vangku >
veelaivaangku 'extract work'

38

viTu 'leave'

muuccu 'breath' + viTu >
muuccuviTu 'breathe'

39

vai 'keep’

aTaku 'pledge' + vai >
aTakuvai 'pledge'

It has to be noted here that
all the verbalizing verbs are native Tamil words. Not all the verbs listed
above are actually used as verbalizers. The number of compound verbs formed
from each verbalizer also varies.

4.4. Dependency Of Verbalizers
On Bases

It is generally the case that the
compound verbs acquire syntactic and semantic features based on the characteristic
features of the bases. For example, the compound verbs accaTi (<accu
'printing' + aTi 'beat') 'print', koLLaiyaTi (<koLLai
'plundering' + aTi 'beat') 'plunder' and viiNaTi (<viiN
'waste' + aTi 'beat')’waste' are transitive verbs capable of
receiving an object retaining the characteristic feature of aTi 'beat'as a main verb. But the compound verbs such as ndiiccalaTi
'swim', perumaiyaTi 'boast' and araTTaiyaTi 'chat' are
intransitive verbs differing from the characteristic feature of ati as
the main verb and thus reflecting the influence of the features of the bases.
Conversely, kaLavaaTu (<kaLavu 'theft' + aaTu) 'steal',
veeTTaiyaaTu (<veeTTai 'hunting' + aaTu) 'hunt'
and curaiyaaTu (<cuuRai 'plundering' + aaTu) 'plunder'
are transitive verbs differing from the characteristic feature of the verbalizing
verb aaTu 'move to and fro' which is basically an intransitive verb.
But the compound verbs uraiyaaTu (<urai 'speech' + aaTu)
'talk' and vaataaTu (<vaatam 'argument' + aaTu)
'argue' are intransitive verbs retaining the characteristic feature of atu
as a main verb. yookamaTi (<yookam 'luck' + aTi)
is capable of receiving a dative subject and thus differing from the verb
aTi which receives a nominative subject.

raaman ndaayai aTittaan
'Rama beat the dog'

raamanukku yookam
aTittatu 'Rama got luck'

The compound verb cuuTeeRu
‘become hot’is a one place verb, where as its constituent verb
eru ‘climb’ is a two place verb.

kurangku marattil
eeRiyatu 'the monkey climbed the tree'

ndiir cuuTeeRiyatu
'the water got heated'

The possibility of verbalizers
getting combined with the same base noun leads to the formation of synonymous
compound verbs.

N + iTu synonymous
with N + poTu

caNTaiyitu 'quarrel'
- caNtaipooTu 'quarrel'

N + uRu synonymous
with N + aTai

tunpamuRu 'suffer' -
tunpappaTu 'suffer'

N + akku synonymous
with N + patuttu

kuNamaakku 'cure' - kuNappaTuttu
'cure'

N + cey synonymous
with N + koTu

taanamcey 'give free'
- tanamkoTu 'give free'

The same base can give different
meanings with different verbalizers.

veLi
'outside' + iTu > veLiyiTu 'publish'

veLi 'outside
+ paTu > veLippaTu 'come to be known or seen'

veLi 'outside'
+ eRu > veLiyeeRu 'come out quit'

veLi 'outside
+ eeRRu > veLiyeeRRu 'expel'

Same base can combine with different
verbalizers by bringing out their polysemous nature.

iiTu + eeRRu >
iTeeRRu 'fulfil'

iiTu + kaTTu >
iiTukaTTu 'make good'

iiTu + koTu >
iiTu koTu 'make up to'

iiTu + paTu >
iiTu paTu 'engage; involve'

iiTu + vai >
iiTu vai 'pledge'

4.5. Dynamics of Compound
Verb Formation

The dynamism involved in the
formation of compound verbs can be listed as follows

1. For fulfilling the need

2. To bring out different shades
of meaning

3. Due to the development of
analytical nature

4. For showing stylistic variation

4.5.1 Fulfilling The Need

It is natural that language
speakers form new words to express their new ideas and experience. As the
speakers are exposed to new ideas and experience due to their contact with
foreign language, they resort to form new verbs by making use of bases from
the foreign language and Tamil verbs as verbalizers.

amal 'implementation'+
paTuttu > amalpaTuttu 'implement'

ooTTu 'vote' + pooTu
> ooTTuppooTu 'cast vote'

cipaaricu 'recommendation'
+ cey > cipaaricu cey 'recommend'

vivaakarattu 'divorce'
+ cey > vivaakarattu cey 'divorce'amul is a base
borrowed from Hindi, vottu is from English, ciparicu is from
Urdu and vivakarattu is from Sanskrit. Even Tamil nouns and particles
have been used as bases to fulfil their need.

accu 'print'
+ aTi > accaTi 'print'

tiTTam 'plan'
+ pooTu > tiTTam pooTu 'plan'

vaakku 'word'
+ aLi > vakkaLi 'promise'

veli 'outside'
+ itu > veliyitu 'publish'

maRiyal 'strike'
+ cey > maRiyal cey 'perform strike'

4.5.2 Different
Shades Of Meaning

Compound verbs have been formed
to bring out different shades of meaning. The following differences in shades
of meaning can be listed by taking cues form Karthikeyan (1983).

1) State vs. change of state

2) Inceptive vs. terminative

3) Direct vs. indirect

4) Low status vs. high status

5) General vs. specific

6) Specified subject vs. unspecified
subject

7) Subject oriented vs. indirect
object oriented

8) Explicit vs. implicit

4.5.2.1 State Vs. Change
Of Stat

While simple verb denotes the
state of a feeling, the compound verb which is related to it will denote
change of state of feeling.

While the simple verb specifies
agent, the compound makes the agent unspecified.

avan vilaiyai ndirNayittaan
'he fixed the price'

vilai
ndirNayamaayiRRu 'the price is fixed'

avan puttakam
piracurittaan 'he published the book'

puttakam piracuramaayiRRu
'the book is published'

4.5.2.8 Subject Oriented
Vs. Indirect Object Oriented

While one type specifies subject
orientation of the action, the other type specifies indirect object oriented
action.

avan aaRutal aTaindtaan
'he got satisfied'

avan avaLukku
aaRutalaLittaan 'he consoled her'

4.5.2.9 Explicit Vs. Implicit

While one type of compound verbs
denote expressed or explicit feeling, the other type of compound verbs denote
implicit feeling.

avan avaLiTam varuttappaTTaan
'he expressed his unhappiness to her.'

avan varuttamaTaindtaan 'he
became unhappy'

4.5.3 Development Of Analytic
Nature

A language can become analytic
or synthetic in course of time. Modern Tamil appears to be more of analytic
in nature than old Tamil. It appears that one or two compound verbs are
formed parallel to a simple verb.

Simple
form Analytic form

utavu 'help'
utavicey 'help'

camai 'cook'
camaiyal cey 'cook'

muyal 'try'
muyaRcicey 'try'

mayangku 'become
unconcious' mayakkamaTai 'become unconcious'

koopi 'show
anger' koopappaTu 'show anger'

4.5.4 Bringing Out Stylistic
Differences

The preference of simple for
compound or vice versa can bring in stylistic difference.

Literary style Spoken
style

aaL 'rule' aaTci
cey 'rule'

irangku 'show
pity' irakkappaTu 'show pity'

muyal 'try' muyaRci
cey 'try'

4.6. The Productivity And
Lexicalization Of Compound Verb Formation

One of the goals of morphological
theorizing is to account for the ways in which speakers both understand
and form not only the existing words that occur in their language, but also
potential words which are not instantiated in use in utterance. The following
points of Katamba (1993) on productivity is worth mentioning here:

(i) Productivity is a matter
of degree. It is not a dichotomy, with some word-formation processes being
productive and others being unproductive. Probably no processes is so general
that it affects, without exception, all the bases to which it could potentially
apply. The reality is that some processes are relatively more general than
others.

(ii) Productivity is subject
to the dimension of time. A process which is very general during one historical
period may become less so at a subsequent period. Conversely, a new process
entering a language may initially affect a tiny fraction of eligible inputs
before eventually applying more widely.”

Formation of compound verbs
by the combination of a noun with a verbalizer is a productive process in
Tamil. Tamil resort to increase its verb stock only by the process of compounding.
The compound verbs which are lexicalized as they attain idiosyncrasy in
their formation and/or meaning got listed in a dictionary. Many of the compound
verbs listed in Karthikeyan (1983) and Rajendran (1979) are found listed
in KTTA as they are lexicalized at the syntactic and semantic level. One
can argue that if the resultant forms are listed in a dictionary, it is
redundant to deal about them by word-formation rules. The word-formation
rules in the formation of compound noun is productive and still operative,
but the output needs to be listed in a dictionary as the compound forms
are lexicalized at syntactic and semantic levels. At the same time many
compound verbs do not get listed in KTTA. As we have seen already, the bases
which can participate in the formation of compound nouns are from native
and non-native source and verbalizers are from native source. The verbalizers
are almost finite in number. When we compare the list of compounds found
in Karthikeyan (1983) with those found in KTTA, we notice that lexicalized
as well non-lexicalized compounds are found in Karthikeyan whrereas KTTA
lists only lexicalized compounds. The following table will give a comparative
account of the number of compound verbs formed by each verbalizer.

Sl.No.

Verbalizer

Number of compounds found in
Karthikeyan

Number of compounds

found in KTTA

1

aTi

27

37

2

aTai

80

5

3

aLi

26

7

4

aaku

45

36

5

aakku

21

24

6

aaTu

16

33

7

aaTTu

-

6

8

aaRRu

7

3

9

iTu

42

50

10

uRu

43

6

11

uRuttu

6

5

12

uuTTu

24

5

13

eTu

17

18

14

eytu

-

4

15

eel

6

3

16

eeRu

8

10

17

eeRRu

8

13

18

kaTTu

-

23

19

kaaTTu

-

20

20

kuuRu

7

1

21

koTu

24

19

22

koL

15

18

23

cey

197

36

24

col

6

-

25

taTTu

-

13

26

paTu

65

58

27

paTuttu

81

56

28

paNNu

90

12

29

paar

10

14

30

piTi

14

16

31

puri

18

1

32

peRu

12

9

33

poo

6

10

34

pooTu

24

47

35

muTTu

-

2

36

vaa

-

16

37

vaangku

-

10

38

viTu

8

18

39

vai

7

19

If we interpret the productivity
of the verbalizer in the formation of compound verbs on the basis of number
of compounds formed, cey appears to be more productive; paNNu
comes next followed by paTuttu, aTai, paTu, aaku, uRu, iTu, aTi,
aLi, koTu, muuTTu, pooTu, aakku and so on as per the number of compounds
formed. Aronoff (1976) argues that one cannot calculate the productivity
on the basis of number of items formed. Productivity, according to him,
is not easy to be calculated and a number of factors are to be taken into
account while calculating the productivity. Productivity has to be calculated
based on the proportion of possible forms and forms formed. Almost all the
items listed in Karthikeyan are listed in KTTA with the exception of certain
verbalizers. That means KTTA has listed almost all the compounds listed
in Karthikeyan as they are lexicalized, especially at the semantic level.
Even then new compounds are always formed to fill the gap or to fulfil the
need. It appears that analogy plays a part in the formation of new compounds.

5. Examination Of The Compound
Verb Formation Based On Each Verbalizer

The strategies followed in the
formation of compound nouns can be understood properly only if we examine
the compounds formed under each verbalizers listed above. The following
details have to be taken into account for each verbalize.

1. The main and the auxiliary
meanings of the verbalizers.

2. The list of compounds formed
from each verbalizer.

3. The list of bases which
are compounded with each verbalizer.

4. The semantic domain or area
to which the set of bases which are associated with a particular verbalizer
belong.

5. The number of nonce formations
for each verbalizer

6.The predictability of the bases to which the verbalizers can be affixed
and the derived meaning.

Let us examine a few verbalizers
from the above points of view.

5.1. Verbalization by aTi

The main meaning of the verbalizer
aTi is 'beat' and the verb belongs to the semantic domain Verbs of
Impact. The polysemous nature of aTi will be exposed when it is collocated
with different nouns. Rajendran (1979) classifies the different meanings
of aTi based on its collocation with different nouns:

The above composition cannot
be considered as compound verbs, though the nouns to which aTi gets
collocated have to be listed for the interpretation of meaning. In the case
of maNamaTi 'smell', ndaaRRamaTi 'smell bad', mazaiyaTi
'rain', veyilaTi 'shine', kaaRRati 'blow as wind', puyalaTi
'blow as storm', the nouns maNam 'smell', ndaaRRam 'bad
smell', mazai 'rain', veyil 'sun shine', kaaRRu 'wind',
and puyal 'storm' have to be considered as subjects and not as bases
of compound verbs. The following compound verbs are listed in KTTA:

The above listed N + V forms
are considered as compounds as they are lexicalized at the semantic level
attaining idiosyncratic or idiomatic meanings. The question before us is
that how for ati can be used as a verbalizer in producing new compound
verbs.

2) A new compound
is created based on the already existing compound, i.e. on analogy.

For example kottati 'beat
drum' can become a compound verb if it attains the idiomatic meaning 'spread
news' or 'boast'. The following formations which are not listed in KTTA
can be considered as compound formations based on analogy, i.e. based on
the already existing kutati 'create a noisy scene'.

aTai as a main verb means
'get' which comes under sub domain Verbs of Getting which in turn comes
under the major semantic domain Verbs of Transfer. The combinatory formations
of aTai with nouns whose status as compound verbs are taken into
consideration are listed below in terms of certain groups depending on the
nouns involved in the formations.

1. With nouns denoting
emotions

accam +
aTai > accamaTai 'feel fear'

candtoSam + aTai
> candtoSamaTai 'feel happy'

ndimmati + aTai
> ndimmatiyaTai 'feel peaceful'

viyappu +
aTai > viyappaTai 'feel surprised'

2. With nouns
denoting a state

uukkam + aTai
> uukkamaTai 'become strong'

kuLircci + aTai
> kuLircciyaTai 'become cool'

ceetam + aTai
> ceetamaTai 'become spoiled'

mayakkam + aTai
> mayakkamaTai 'become unconscious'

3. With nouns
denoting status or achievement

veRRi + aTai
> veRRiyaTai 'succeed'

pukaz +
aTai > pukazaTai 'get fame'

As the above listed forms are
transparent in the sense that the constituent meanings can be used to interpret
the total meaning of the constitute, they are phrasal in character than
compound. These forms are not listed in KTTA. KTTA has listed only 5 as
N + atai compounds as they are semantically lexicalized.

5.3. Verbalization by
aLi

The vebalizer aLi comes
under the semantic domain VERBS OF TRANSFERENCE The use of aLi is
restricted to written language. It comes as a compound with different nominal
elements. Generally it expresses benefaction or award. It collocates with
a number of nouns to form compound verbs. As a verbalizer aLi can
be equated with koTu which is synonymous with aLi. The verbalizing
behaviour of aLi is similar to that of koTu.

5.4. Verbalization by
aaku

aaku comes under the
semantic domain VERBS OF STATE. It is a copula verb expressing that something
or some one is in a specified state or condition. The compound verbs formed
by aaku generally expresse the change from one state or condition
to antother state or condition and so they get grouped under VERBS OF CHANGE
OF STATE. Based on its collocation with the nouns to form compound verbs
the following classes can be identified:

1.Nouns expressing deformity of the body parts + aaku

$uunam
'deformity, handicap'' + aaku > uunamaaku 'become handicapped'

$kuruTu
'blind' + aaku > kuruTaaku 'become blind'

$muTam
'lameness' + aaku > muTamaaku 'become handicapped'

2.Nouns denoting conditions or qualities + aaku

$iruTTu
'darkness' + aaku > iruTTaaku 'become dark'

$cuuTu 'hotness'
+ aaku > cuuTaaku 'become hot'

$teLivu
'clarity' + aaku > teLivaaku 'become clear'

$paazh 'waste' +
aaku > paazaaku 'become useless'

$virayam
'wasteage' + aaku > virayamaaku 'become waste'

$viiN 'waste' +
aaku > viiNaaku 'become waste'

3.Nouns of expression or communication + aaku

$ampalam 'place
where public hearing took place' + aakku >amplamaaku 'make known to public'

$piracuram
'publication' + aakku > piracuramaaku 'publish'

Nouns
expressing expulsion + aaku

$viTutalai
'release' + aaku 'get released'

veLi 'outside' +
aaku > veLiyaaku 'be released'

It is difficult to say all the
collocations listed above are compound verbs. When there is a transparency
of getting the combinatory meaning from the individual meanings of constituent
items, then it is difficult to call them as compounds. Interestingly the
collocations listed above which are marked initially by $ sign are not listed
in KTTA. This amounts to the presumption that all these combinations are
not lexicalized to get listed in a dictionary. If we go by lexicalization
as factor for ascertaining a combination as a compound, then the forms marked
by $ sign cannot be called as compounds. In that case, only those forms
which are qualified to be get listed in a dictionary can be called as compounds.
KTTA has listed 36 compounds formed by combining certain set nouns with
the verbalizer aaku. Some of them are listed below:

arttam 'meaning'
sense' + aaku > arttamaaku 'make sense',

aajar 'present'
+ aaku > aajaraaku 'appear, be present'

irai 'prey' +
aaku > iraiyaaku 'be subject to destruction',

uru 'form' +
aaku > uruvaaku 'come into existence',

uRpatti
'production' + aaku > uRpattiyaaku 'originate',

kaalam 'time' +
aaku > kaalamaaku 'pass away',

caTangku
'ceremony' + aaku > caTangkaaku 'come to age',

It has to be noted that a number
of items listed in Karthikeyan (1983) are not listed in KTTA. The following
is the sample of the list.

$payaNam 'travel' +
aaku > payaNamaaku 'start a journey'

$aikkiyam 'oneness' +
aaku > aikkiyamaaku 'be united'

$aarampam 'beginning'
+ aaku > aarampamaaku 'start'

$aayattam 'preparations'
+ aaku > aayattamaaku ' get ready'

It may be because the collocations
are so transparent that the combinatory meanings can be had from the individual
meanings of the constituents. But the productivity of a formation demands
predictability of the combination. The combinatory of meaning of a collocated
item can be predicted only at the stage of transparency. It is likely that
it attains idiosyncrasy when get lexicalized in terms of meaning. In such
stage it get listed in the dictionary as a single word. Anyhow, it is possible
to say that aaku is a productive verbalizer as it is capable of combining
with a number of nouns which in due course get listed in a dictionary.

Not all collocations can be
categorized as compounds. For example, aaku collocates with words
denoting time such as neeram 'time', camayam 'time', kaalataamatam
'delay' 'time', ndaaL 'day', etc. will express delay.

avan viiTTiRkup
pooka ndeeram aakum 'there will be delay in his going home'

avan viiTTiRkup
pooka ndeeram aakiviTTatu 'Time has come form him to leave for home'

avan anta
veelaiyaic ceytu muTikka ndaaLaakum 'It will take days to complete the work'

avan anta
veelaiyaic ceytu muTikka ndaaLaayiRRu 'He has taken many days to complete the
work'

5.5. Verbalization by
aaku

aakku comes under the
semantic domain VERBS OF CREATION. aakku denotes creating, producing
or causing something to come up. As a vebalizer it is used in the sense
of 'change', 'transform' , 'make' , etc. As in the case of aaku,
aakku can also be classified into a few types based on its collocation
with nouns.

1.Nouns expressing
deformity of the body parts + aakku

$uunam
'deformity, handicap'' + aakku > uunamaaku 'make handicapped'

$kuruTu
'blind' + aakku > kuruTaakku 'make blind'

$muTam
'lameness' + aakku > muTamaakku 'make handicapped'

4.Nouns denoting conditions or qualities + aaku

$azhukku 'dirty'
+ aakku > azhukkaakku 'make dirty'

cezhippu
'prosperity' + aakku > cezhippaakku 'make prosper'

$cuuTu 'hotness'
+ aakku > cuuTaakku 'make hot'

$teLivu 'clarity'
+ aakku > teLivaakku 'make clear'

$paazh 'waste' +
aakku > paazhaakku 'destroy'

$virayam
'wasteage' + aaku > virayamaaku 'waste'

$viiN 'waste' +
aaku > viiNaaku 'waste'

5.Nouns of expression or communication + aaku

$arttam
'meaning' + aaku > arttamaaku 'make sense'

$ampalam 'place
where public hearing took place' + aaku >amplamaaku 'be known to public'

$piracuram
'publication' + aaku > piracuramaaku 'get published'

$piracaaram +
aaku > piracaaramaaku 'become public'

$peeccu 'talk'
+ aaku > peeccaaku 'become topic of the talk'

6.Nouns expressing expulsion + aaku

$viTutalai
'release' + aaku 'get released'

veLi 'outside'
+ aaku > veLiyaaku 'be released'

KTTA has listed 24 compounds
formed by combining certain set nouns with the verbalizer aakku.
Some of them are listed below:

irai 'prey' +
aakku > iraiyaakku 'subject to destruction',

uru 'form' +
aaku > uruvaakku 'construct'

kari 'charcoal'
+ aakku > kariyaakku 'fritter'

kaacu 'coin' + aakku
> kaacaakku 'cash in'

caTTam 'law' + aakku
> caTTamaakku 'enact'

Not all the aaku compounds
have parallel aakku compounds. It has to be noted that a number
of items listed in Karthikeyan (1983) are not listed in KTTA. The following
is the sample of the list.

$atikam 'excess' +
aakku > atikmaakku 'increase'

$azhukku 'dirty' +
aakku > azhukkaakku 'make dirty'

$uayaram 'height' +
aakku > uyaramaakku 'make tall'

$cikkal 'complication'
+ aakku > cikkalaakku 'complicate'

As noted already, the reason
could the transparency in their formation. Anyhow, it is possible to say
that aakku is a productive verbalizer as it is capable of combining
with a number of nouns which in due course get listed in a dictionary.

5.6. Vebalization by aaTu

aaTu comes under the
semantic domain VERBS OF NON-DIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT. aaTu expresses
swinging, oscillating or waving movement of a body which is hanged or attached
so as to move freely. Karthikeyan (1983) classify the formation based on
the movement of the body parts as aaTu involves body movement.

1. Movement of the
body

aaTTam + aaTu >
aaTTamaaTu 'dance'

uRavu 'relation +
aaTu > uRavaaTu 'act friendly'

Movement of the
hands

kaLavu 'stealing' +
aaTu > kaLavaaTu 'steal'

cuutu 'gambling' +
aaTu > cuutaaTu 'gamble'

2. Movement of the
lips

urai 'speech' + aaTu
> uraiyaaTu 'perform'

vazhakku 'dispute'
aaTu > vazhakkaaTu ' dispute'

3. Psychological
movement

tiNTaaTu 'suffer'

tikkumukkaaTu 'suffer
as to not able to breath'

It appears that there is no logic
behind this classification. The best way of classifying the nominal bases
which collocates with aaTu could be to group them as nouns of performance.
aaTu when collocated with these nouns denotes the verbalizing meaning
'perform'.

1. Nouns denoting certain performance
+ aaTu

urai 'speech' +
aaTu > uraiyaaTu 'talk'

uRavu 'intimacy'
+ aaTu > uRavaaTu 'move closely'

kuuttu 'dance' +
aaTu > kuuttaaTu 'dance; be higly elated'

cuutaatu
'gambling' + aaTu > cuutaaTu 'gamble'

cuuRai
'plundering' + aaTu > cuuRaiyaaTu 'plunder'

poor 'fighting'
+ aaTu > pooraaTu 'fight'

ndaTam 'walking'
+ aaTu > ndaTamaaTu 'walk about'

ndaaTakam
'drama' + aaTu > ndaaTakamaaTu 'act'

vazhakku
'dispute' + aaTu > vazhakkaaTu 'argue'

vaatu 'dispute'
+ aaTu > vaataaTu ' argue'

2.Certain miscellaneous nouns + aaTu

koNTu + aaTu
> koNTaaTu 'celebrate'

taLLu
'staggering' aaTu > taLLaaTu 'stagger'

tikkumukkku '?'
+ aaTu > tikkumukkaaTu ' get suffocate'

tiNTu + aaTu
> tiNTaaTu 'suffer'

manRu 'hall' +
aaTu > manRaaTu ' implore'

viLai 'ground'
+ aaTu > viLaiyaaTu 'play'

KTTA has listed 33 compound
verbs formed by the verbalizer aaTu. The compounds unmarked for
$ sign are found in KTTA. aaTu appears to be not a productive vebalizer
as it does not encourage predictable collocations to form compound verbs.
The only possibility of nonce formation could be by forming new idiomatic
meaning as exemplified in the following examples:

ataiyum
itaiyumceyyaccolli avarkaL kaNNanaip pandtaaTinaarkaL

'They harassed Kannan
by asking to do this and that'

avarkaL peNakaLai
veTTaiyaaTap puRappaTTaarkaL

'They started to harm
women'

5.7. Verbalization by
aaTTu

aaTTu is the transitive
form of aaTu. It also is grouped under VERBS OF MOVEMENT and also under
VERBS OF IMPACT. It is used with the meaning 'shake; cause to swing', etc.
Karthikeyan(1983) has listed this under verbalizer as it is not a productive
verbalizer. KTTA has listed only 6 compounds formed by aaTTu. The
following forms are listed in Rajendran (1978:247).

$uRakku 'sleep' +
aaTTu > uRakkaaTTu 'cause to sleep'

kuLippu 'bathing' +
aaTTu > kuLippaaTTu 'bathe'

ciir 'git' + aaTTu
> ciiraaTTu 'tend lovingly'

taal 'lullaby' +
aaTTu > talaaTTu 'rock a child singing lullabies'

paar 'world' + aaTTu
> paraaTTu 'praise'

vaal 'tail' + aaTTu
> valaaTTu 'act provocatively against some one'

maavu 'dough' +
aaTTu > maavaaTTu 'grind'

5.8. Verbalization by aaRRu

aaRRu is grouped under the semantic domain VERBS
OF PERFORMANCE. It expresses doing, carrying out or performing a work, duty,
etc. It is collocated with nouns denoting work, duty, speech, lecture,
etc. to form compound verbs.

KTTA has listed only 3 compounds formed by this vebalizer.
aaRRu is not a productive verbalizer as its use is restricted to written
language.

5.9. Verbalization by iTu

iTu comes under the semantic
domain VERBS OF TRANSFER. It is primarily used with the meaning 'put; place'.
As a verbalizer it collocates with a set of nouns forming compound
verbs. The following classification nominal based can be identified to
understand the verbalization by iTu.

KTTA has listed
50 compounds formed by using the verbalizer iTu which it considers
lexicalized to be entered in the dictionary. Though the use of iTu
is restricted to written language, it appears to be a productive verbalizer
as it can form nonce formations.

5.10. Verbalization
by uRu

uRu cannot come independently.
It always comes in collocation with nouns cpressing feeling or state in
the sense of 'get; obtain'. It forms a number of compound verbs as a verbalizer,
though its use is restricted to written language. In the modern Tamil the
verb aTai which synonymous with uRu is preferred in the place
of uRu. Based on the nouns which collocate with the verbalizer uRu,
the following classification can be made.

1.Nouns denoting sufferings, emotions and feelings + uRu

1.1.Nouns
of suffering + uRu

allal 'suffering
+ uRu > allaluRu 'suffer'

avati
'suffering' + uRu > avatiyuRu 'suffer'

kalakkam
'sadness' + uRu > kalakkamuRu 'feel sad'

tuyaram
'sadness' + uRu > tuyaramuRu

tunpam
"sadness' + uRu > tunpamuRu 'suffer

1.2.Nouns of
happiness + uRu

inpu 'happiness'
+ uRu > inpuRu 'feel happy'

candtooSam
'happiness' + uRu > candtooSamuRu ' feel happy'

kaLippu
'happiness' + uRu > kaLippuRu 'feel happy'

kutukkalam
'happiness' + uRu > kutuukalamuRu 'feel happy'

makizhcci
'happiness' + uRu > makizhcciyuRu 'feel happy'

1.3.Nouns denoting
unpleasant feelings + uRu

accam 'fear' +
uRu > accamuRu 'fear'

ericcal
'irritation' + uRu > ericcaluRu 'feel irritated'

aiyam 'doubt' +
uRu > aiyaamuRu 'doubt'

calippu
'boredom' + uRu > calippuRu 'feel bored'

ciRumai 'shame'
+ uRu > ciRumaiyuRu 'feel ashamed'

koopam 'anger' +
uRu > koopamuRu 'feel angry'

tuNukku 'shock'
+ uRu > tuNukkuRu 'feel shocked'

2.Nouns denoting certain physical state + uRu

2.1.Nouns
denoting bodily state + uRu

uunam
'handicap' + uRu > uunamuRu 'become handicapped'

taLarcci
'weakness' + uRu > taLarcciyuRu 'become weak'

ndalivu
'weakness' + uRu > ndalivuRu 'become weak'

polivu
'freshness' + uRu > polivuRu 'become fresh'

mayakkam
'unconsciousness' + uRu > makkamuRu 'become unconsciousness'

valimai
'strength' + uRu > valimaiyuRu 'become strong'

2.2.Nouns
denoting some good or bad conditions + uRu

$citaivu
'state of ruin' + uRu > citaivuRu 'get desroyed'

$cezhippu
'flourshing' + uRu > cezhippuRu 'flourish'

$ceetam
'loss; damage' + uRu > ceetamuRu 'get damaged'

3.Miscellaneous nouns + uRu

keeLvi 'hear
say' + uRu> keeLviyuRu 'come to know; hear'

toolvi 'defeat'
+ uRu > toolviyuRu 'get defeated'

KTTA has listed only 6 compounds
formed by uRu as it tries to represent only modern Tamil. As we stated
already in most of the compounds aTai can replace uRu. There
a few compounds in which aTai cannot replace uRu, for example
*keeLviyaTai is not possible Though the use of uRu is restricted
to classical Tamil and its use is not encouraged in modern Tamil and its
synonym aTai is preferred to uRu, it has its own productive quality
which can be exploited to form nonce formations.

5.11.Verbalization by
uRuttu

uRuttu is used in the
modern Tamil to denote feeling uneasy and also distrubing others feeling.
uRuttu is the transitive formof uRu. But it is not
as productive as uRu in the formation compound verbs with nouns.
It cannot be collocated with all the nouns to which uRu can be collocated.

1. Certain
nouns of feeling or suffering + uRuttu

accu
'fear' + uRuttu > accuRuttu ' cause fear'

tunpu
'suffering' + uRuttu > tunpuRuttu 'case to suffer; hurt'

payam 'fear' + uRuttu
> payamuRuttu 'cause fear'

2. Certain nouns
denoting firmness or force + uRuttu

vaRpu
'firmess' + uRuttu > vaRpuRuttu 'inist; compel'

vali
'force' + uRuttu > valiyuRuttu 'insist'

5.12. Verbalization
by uuTTu

uuTTu primarily means
cause one to consume food. As a verbalizer it is used with the meaning 'make;
case'. It is primarily used with nouns denoting emotions and feelings
to form compound verbs. While uRu with nouns of emotions and feelings
forms compounds denoting the experiencing of those feelings or emotions,
uuTTu forms compounds denoting causing of those feelings. It fulfils
what the verbalizer uRuttu fails to do. It does not collocates with
nouns of suffering.

1. Nouns denoting
emotions and feelings + uuTTu

Nouns denoting
certain pleasant feelings

inpam
'happiness' + uuTTu > inpamuuTTu 'make happy'

kaLippu
'happiness' + uuTTu > kaLippuuTtu 'make happy'

kiLarcci
'excitement' + uuTTu > kiLarcciyuuTTu 'make excited'

ndampikkai
'faith; hope' + uuTTu > ndampikkaiyuuTTu 'encourage'

makizhcci
'happiness' + uuTTu > makizhcciyuuTtu 'make happy'

1.1. Nouns denoting certain unpleasant feelings

aattiram
'anger' + uuTTu > aattiramuuTTu 'make angry'

ericcal
'irritation' + uuTTu > ericcaluuTTu 'irritate'

kili
'fear' + uuTTu > kiliyuuTTu 'frighten'

koopam
'anger' + uuTTu > koopamuuTTu 'make angry'

veRi
'fury' + uuTTu > veRiyuuTTu 'infuriate'

veRuppu 'hatred'
+ uuTTu > veRuppuuTTu 'cause discontent'

2.Miscellaneous
nouns + uuTTu

eri 'fire' uuTTu
> eriyuuTTu 'light the funeral fire'

tii 'fire' + uuTTu
> tiiyuuTTu 'light the funeral fire'

maNam
'fragrance' + uuTTu > maNamuuTTu 'make fragrant'

valu 'strenth'
+ uuTTu > valuvuuTTu 'strengthen'

uuTTu appears to be a
productive verbalizer capable of forming nonce formations. KTTA has listed
only 5 compounds formed by using uuTTu. Most of the compounds listed
above are not listed in KTTA. The reason could be the transparency involved
in their formation. If uuTTu is taken as meaning 'give' in the above
collocations, one can get the combinatory meaning of the above mentioned
compounds from the meanings of the constituent elements.

VerbalizationbyeTu

eTu comes under the semantic
domain VERBS OF TRANSFERING. eTu primarily denotes taking possession
of something. As a verbalizer it collocates with certain nouns of feelings
and events to denote the inception of respective feelings and events.

3.1.Set of
nouns equivalent to English nouns which collocate with the verb take + eTu
(Analogical formation in line with English)

aLavu 'measure'
+ eTu > aLaveTu 'take the measure'

ooyvu 'rest' +
eTu > ooyveTu 'take rest'

kuRippu 'note' +
eTu > kuRippeTu 'take note'

capatam 'oath' +
eTu > capatameTu 'take a oath'

tiirmaanam
'decision' + eTu > tiirmaanameTu 'make a decision'

pangku 'part' +
eTu > pangkeTu 'take part'

paTi 'copy' +
eTu > paTiyeTu 'take copy'

muTivu 'decision
+ eTu > muTiveTu 'take a decision'

3.2.Other
miscellaneous set of nouns + eTu

uru 'shape' +
eTu > uruveTu 'come into existence'

cuviikaaram
'adoption' + eTu > cuviikaarameTu 'adopt'

tattu 'adoption'
+ eTu > tatteTu 'adopt'

talai 'head' +
eTu > talaiyeTu 'come up'

paTam 'picturte'
+ eTu > paTameTu 'take a picture; shoot a film'

paTam 'hood' +
eTu > paTameTu 'spread the hood'

paTai 'army' +
eTu > paTaiyeTu 'invade'

piccai 'alms' +
eTu > piccaiyeTu 'beg'

piRavi 'birth' +
eTu > piRaviyeTu 'born'

vaTivu 'shape' +
eTu > vaTiveTu 'take shape'

vaandti 'vomitting'
+ eTu > vaandtiyeTu 'vomit'

KTTA has listed only 18 compounds formed by eTu. The forms such
as payameTu and paciyeTu are not listed in the dictionary.
It seems that KTTA has only those items which are lexicalized i.e. which
it considers as unanalysable; those forms whose meaning can be predicted
from the constituents which involve in compounding are not listed in the
dictionary.

Verbalization by eel

eel comes under the semantic
domain VERBS OF TRANSFERRING under the sub domain VEBS OF GETTING. eel
primarily denotes accepting and admitting. Its use is restricted to written
language. Only a few nouns collocates with eel to form compound
verbs. It collocates with the nouns denoting certain responsibility to
form compounds.

1. Subset of nouns
denoting responsibility + eel

talaimai 'leadership'
+ eel > talaimaiyeel 'preside over'

patavi 'post' + eel
> pataviyeel 'swear in'

poRuppu
'responsibility + eel > poRuppeel 'take responsibility'

2.Miscellaneous
set of nouns + eel

pangku 'part' +
eel > pangeel ' take part'

pazhi 'blame' +
eel > pazhiyeel 'take the blame'

varavu 'coming'
+ eel > varaveel 'welcome'

eel is not a productive
verbalizer. KTTA has listed only 3 lexicalized compounds which are formed by
collocating nouns with eel.

Verbalization by eeRu

eeRu comes under the
semantic domain VERBS OF MOVEMENT and under the sub domain VERBS OF UPWARD
MOVEMENT. eeRu denotes upward movement from lower level to higher
level. It primarily used with the meaning 'climb up; ascend'. As a verbalizer
it forms a number of compounds by combining with nouns. The following types
of collocations can be noted:

eeRu is not a productive verbalizer
as it does not form nonce formations.

VerbalizationbyeeRRu

eeRRu is the transitive
form of eeRu. eeRRu denotes causing something to be placed at a higher
level. It collocates with a few nouns to form compound verbs. The classification
of the nominal bases goes according to the nominal bases of eeRu.

1.Subset of nouns denoting locative relations + eeRRu

mun + eeRRu >
munneeRRu 'cause to progress'

veLi + eeRRu
> veLiyeeRRu 'discharge; expel'

2.Subset of nouns denoting physical state of an object + eeRRu

cuuTu 'hot' +
eeRRu > cuuTeeRRu 'make hot'

meruku 'polish'
+ eeRRu > merukeeRRu 'polish'

valu 'strength'
+ eeRRu > valuveeRu 'strenthen'

4.Miscellaneous set of nouns + eeRRu

accu 'print' +
eeRRu > acceeRu 'print'

arangku 'stage'
+ eeRRu > arangkeeRRu 'stage; present'

kuTi 'citizen' +
eeRRu > kuTiyeeRu 'settle'

ndiRaivu
'fulfilment' + eeRu > ndiRaiveeRRu 'complete; fulfilled'

payir 'crop'
+ eeRRu > payireeRRu 'cultivate'

eRRu is not a productive
verbalizer as it does not form nonce formations.

Verblization by kuuRu

kuuRu comes under the
semantic domain VERBS OF COMMUNICATION. It collocates with nouns denoting
different kinds of speech. The use of kuuRu is restricted to written
language. col 'tell', the synonym of kuuRu, is used in the
place of kuuRu

1.Nouns denoting different kinds of speech + kuuRu

aRivurai
'advice' + kuuRu > aRivuraikuuRu 'advise'

aaci 'blessing'
+ kuuRu > aacikuuRu 'bless'

uRuti 'promise'
+ kuuRu > uRutikuuRu 'promise'

kuRai 'blame' +
kuuRu > kuRaikuuRu 'blame'

kuRRam 'fault' +
kuuRu > kuRRam kuuRu 'blame'

patil 'reply' +
kuuRu > patilkuuRu 'reply; answer'

viTai 'answer' +
kuuRu >viTaikuuRu 'answer'

vaazhttu
'greetings' + kuuRu >vaazhttu kuuRu 'greet'

2.Miscellaneous set of nouns + kuuRu

puRam 'back'
+ kuuRu > puRamkuuRu ' back bite'

KTTA has listed only one compound
formed by making used of kuuRu. The compounds listed under the first
type of collocation have not been listed KTTA as their formation is transparent
and predictable. All the nouns listed under the first type of collocation
can be interupted by case suffixes as well as by plural marker kaL.
The collocational meanings can be capturted by the general meaning "tell
X". So it doubtful whether to consider kuuRu in the above mentioned
compound as verbalizer. Karthikeyan (1983) listed most of them as compounds
formed by the verbalizer kuuRu.

Verbalization by koTu

koTu comes under the semantic domain
VERBS OF TRANSFERING under the sudomain VERBS OF LOSING. It primarily denotes
giving something to someone; an object is transferred from giver to receiver.
It mainly collocates with nouns denoting different types of commmunication.

1.Subset of nouns denoting different types of communcation

aRikkai 'announcement'
+ koTu > aRikkai koTu 'announce'

anumati
'permission' + koTu > anumati koTu 'permit'

uttiravaatam
'guarantee' + koTu > uttiravaatam koTu 'guarantee'

uttiravu
'permission' + koTu > uttaravu koTu 'give permission'

uRuti 'promise'
+ koTu > uRutikoTu 'promise'

opputal
'consent' + koTu > opputal koTu 'give consent'

cammatam
'consent' + koTu > cammatam koTu 'give consent'

patil 'answer;
reply' + koTu > patil koTu 'reply'

payiRci
'training' + koTu > payiRci koTu 'train'

peeccu 'talk' +
koTu > peeccu koTu 'initiate talk'

tiirppu
'judgement' + koTu > tiirppu kotu 'give judgement'

varaveeRpu
'reception' + koTu > varaveeRpu koTu 'welcome'

vaakku 'word;
promise' + koTu > vaakku koTu 'promise'

vaakkuRuti
'promise' + koTu > vaakkuRuti koTu 'promise'

viLakkam 'explanation'
+ koTu > viLakkam koTu 'explain'

viTai 'answer' +
koTu > viTai koTu 'answer'

2.Subset of nouns denoting visual perception + koTu

kaaTci 'sight' +
koTu > kaaTci koTu 'appear'

taricanam
'appearance' + koTu > kaaTci koTu 'appear'

tooRRam
'appearance' + koTu > tooRam koTu 'appear'

3.Miscellaneous set of nouns + koTu

aTaikkalam
'asylum' + koTu > aTaikkalam koTu ' give asylum'

aatvu 'support'
+ koTu > aataravu koTu 'support'

itam 'place' +
koTu > iTam koTu 'show some consideration'

iiTu 'match;
equal' + koTu > iiTu koTu 'match up to; rise equal to'

cellam
'indulgence' + koTu > cellam koTu 'show indulgence'

paRi 'snatching'
+ koTu > paRi koTu 'lose'

paatukaappu
'protection' + koTu > paatukaappu koTu 'give protection'

Only 19 lexicalized compounds
formed by koTu are listed in KTTA. Most of the compounds whose derivation
is transparent from the point of view of thier formation and the resultant
meaning is not listed in KTTA. Especially, most of the compounds listed
in the first type of collocation is not included in KTTA as thery are transparent
and the resultant meanings can be predicted. They can be interruped by
case suffixes as well as, in some cases, by plural kaL. They can
be given the generalized meaning "give X". Karthikeyan (1983)
has listed most of them as compound verbs formed by the verbalizer koTu.

Verbalization by koL

The verbalizer koL is
primarily used with the meaning 'contain;hold; possess; have, etc.'. It
comes under the semantic domain VERBS OF TRANSFER. It verbalizes the nouns
denoting certain psychological states such as emotions, feelings, desire,
etc. into verbs which express the dynamics of these actions.

1.Subset of nouns denoting emtions, feelings, desires, etc.

accam 'fear' + koL> accamkoL 'fear'

amaiti 'peace' + koL > amaitikoL 'be calm'

koopam 'anger' + koL > koopamkoL 'be angry'

veRuppu 'hatred' + koL > veRuppukoL 'feel hatred'

2.Miscellaneous set of nouns + koL

aaL 'person' + koL > aaTkoL 'adimit as slave'

iruppu 'remaining' + koL > iruppukkoL 'be at ease'

etir 'opposition' + koL > etirkoL 'approach and greet'

karu 'egg' + koL > karukkoL 'become pregnant'

kaavu 'scrifice' + koL > kaavukoL 'accept or take scrifice'

koLLai 'plundering' + koL 'attract'

kuTi 'settment'
+ koL > kuTikoL 'take up abode'

kai 'hand' + koL > kaikkoL 'take to'

ndilai 'state' + koL > ndilaikoL 'come to settledown'

pangku 'part' + koL > pangkukoL 'take part'

paLLi 'lying' + koL > paLLikoL 'be resting'

manam 'mind' + koL > manangkoL 'take into consideration'

meel 'over' + koL > meeRkoL 'conduct something'

maiyam 'centre' + koL > maiyangkoL 'be centred'

The formation of compound verbs
by adding koL to the first set of nouns listed above appears to be a
productive and predictable process and so the resultant compound verbs are not
listed in KTTA. KTTA lists only those verbs which are listed under second type
that are formed by adding koL to an unpredictable set of miscellaneous
nouns. Out of 47 compound verbs formed by the vebalizer koL, only 19
are formed by the worformation rule N + koL > V and 28 are formed by the
lexicalization of the combination Past participle form of a main verb with
koL.

Past Participle
form of a verb + koL

azhaittu 'having
invited' + koL > azhaittukkoL 'take along'

aaNTu 'having ruled'
+ koL > aaNTukoL 'accept as a slave'

kaTTi 'having tied' +
koL > kaTTikkoL 'marry'

kaaTti 'having shown'
+ koL > kaaTTikkoL '

Verbalization by cey

The major meaning of the verb
cey is 'do'. Among the verbalizers cey appears to be more
widely used in the formation of compound verbs. It gets collocated with
a number of English nouns forming nonce formations to fulfil the need. A
few combinatory formations for cey which can be taken as compounds
are listed below.

araycci + cey
> araycci cey 'do research'

iTaincal
'obstacle' + cey > iTainjcal cey 'disturb'

uRpatti
'production' + cey > uRpatti cey 'produce'

viTutalai
‘release’+ cey > viTutalai cey 'release from captive'

The above listed combinatory
forms are transparent with reference to meaning. The total meaning of a
constitute can be had from the meanings of the constituents. So they are
phrasal in character than compound. These forms are not listed in KTTA.
KTTA has listed 36 as N + cey compounds as they are lexicalized at
the semantic level.

avana 'that
which is needed' + cey > avana cey 'do what is needed or
required'

urai 'explanatory
commentary' + cey > uraicey 'write commentary'

uruti 'certainty'
+ cey > uruticey 'confirm; prove'

ciir 'orderliness'
+ cey > ciir cey 'repair; put in order'

Verbalization by col

The primary meaning of col
is 'say'. It comes under the semantic domain VERBS OF COMMUNICATION. It
collocates with a number of nouns denoting various aspects of speaking to
fom compound verbs.

patil 'reply' + col
> patil col 'reply'

poy 'lie' + col >
poycol 'lie'

kuRai 'blame' +
col > kuRaicol '

The folloing formations are
listed in KTTA.

kuRRam 'blame' col
> kuRRamcol 'blame'

kooL 'opinion' + col
> kooLcol 'tell tale against someone'

caaTci 'evidence' +
col > caaTcicol 'give tesimony or evidence'

col appears to be a less
productive verbalizer.

Verbalization bytaTTu

The verb taTTu as a main
verb means 'pat; stroke; strike; tap, etc,'. It comes under the semantic
domain VERBS OF IMPACT. As a vebalizer it collocates with a few set of
nouns to form compound verbs. KTTA has listed the following as the verbs
as they get lexicalized into a simple unit.

taTTu appears to form
compound verbs with certain set of nouns denoting mental attitude.

aluppu 'tiredness' +
taTTu > aluppu taTTu 'become bored'

aarvam 'interest' +
taTTu > aarvamtaTTu 'develop interest'

veRuppu 'hatredness'
+ taTTu > veRuppu taTTu 'develop hatredness'

taTTu with nouns denoting
food items which can be made by pating the dough, form compund verbs which
denote making of the concerned food items.

aTai 'rice cake' +
taTTu > aTaitaTTu 'make aTai'

vaTai 'a kind of
snack' + taTTu > vaTaitaTTu 'make vaTai'

Verbalization bypaTu

paTu primarily means
'fall; touch'. It is used as a verbalizer in the sense of 'experience'.
paTu is a productive verbalizer as it can form a number of compound
verbs with a set of nouns denoting feelings, emotions or mental states.
KTTA lists 58 compound formed by the berbalizer paTu, out of which
55 are fomed by adding paTu to noun bases, 1 is formed by adding
paTu to the noun inflected for il-case and 2 are formed by adding
paTu to the past pariciple form of verbs.

paTu as a productive
predictable verbalizer collocates with a set of nouns denoting feelings,
emotions, and the like to form compound nouns. Karthikeyan (1983) groups
the nouns which are collocated to paTu to form compound nouns into
three: nouns denoting psychological states, nouns denoting physical states
and other nouns. He lists 65 compound verbs formed by adding paTu
to the nouns denoting psychological state, physical state and others/

1. Nouns
denoting psychological states + paTu

aaccam 'fear' + paTu
> accappaTu 'fear'

kavalai 'worry' +
paTu > kavalaippaTu 'worry'

candtoocam
'happiness' + paTu > candtoocappaTu 'feel happy'

poRaamai 'jealous' +
paTu > poRamaippaTu ' feel jealous'

2. Nouns denoting
Physical states + paTu

kaLangkam 'blemish' +
paTu > kaLangkappaTu 'be blemished'

kaayam 'wound' + paTu
> kaayappaTu 'be wounded'

miccam 'remainder' +
paTu > miccappaTu 'be surplus'

veTTu 'cut' + paTu
> veTTuppaTu 'be cut'

3.Other nouns + paTu

akam 'inside' +
paTu > akappaTu 'be caught'

kiizh 'below' +
paTu > kiizhpaTu 'be controlled'

payan
'usefulness' + paTu > payanpaTu ' be useful'

puRam 'out side'
+ paTu > puRappaTu 'start'

Verbalization bypaTuttu

paTuttu primarily means
'case to suffer; subject one to surrfe'. As a verbalizer it collocates
with a set of nouns by denoting meaing 'make;cause; transform;subject'.
KTTA lists 56 compound verbs formed by the verbalizer paTuttu. which
are lexicalized. Out of 56 only one is formed by adding paTuttu to
the infinitive form of the verb and rest are formed by adding paTuttu
to nouns.

Infinitive form of
a verb + paTuttu

teriya 'to know' +
paTuttu 'clarify'

N + paTuttu

atikam 'more' + paTuttu
> atikappaTuttu 'increase'

kuNam 'cure' +
paTuttu > kuNappaTuttu 'cure'

tanimai 'loneliness'
+ paTuttu > tanimaippaTuttu 'isolate'

ndinaivu 'thought'
+ paTuttu > ndinaivu paTuttu 'recollect'

paTuttu is the transitive
form of paTu. Like paTu, paTuttu is also a producive
verbalizer and forms compound nouns when collocated with a set of nouns
which denotes feelings, emotions and the like. The nouns collocated with
paTuttu can also be classified into two: nouns denoting psychological state
of mind such as feeling, emotions, etc. and nouns denoting physical state
size, countenance, strength, fertility, etc. Kartikeyan (1983) lists 81
compound verbs formed by combining paTuttu with nouns denoting psychological
and physical state.

1.A set of nouns denoting psychological state of mind such as feelin,
emotions, etc.+ paTuttu

avamaanam
'shame' + paTuttu > avamaanappaTuttu 'disgrace'

koopam 'anger'
+ paTuttu > koopappaTutt 'make angry'

ndinaivu
'thought' + paTuttu > ndinaivu paTuttu 'remind'

payam 'fear'
+ paTuttu > payappaTuttu 'frighten'

2. A set of nouns denoting physical states

alngkoolam
'disorderliness' + paTuttu > alngkoolappaTuttu '

azhaku 'beauty'
+ paTuttu > azhakupaTuttu 'beautify'

tuuymai
'cleanliness' + paTuttu > tuuymaippaTuttu 'clean'

virivu 'expansion'
+ paTuttu > virivu paTuttu 'expand'

Verbalization bypaNNu

The primary meaning of pNNu
is 'do; perform'. It is generally used in colloquial speech. It is synonymous
with cey and so many of the nouns which collocates with cey to form compound
verbs will collocates with paNNu too to form compound verbs. The nouns
which collocates with paNNu are generally denote actions or performance.
KTTA has listed 12 compounds of the type N+Verbalizer which are lixicalized
to find their place in the dictionary.

Karthikeyan has listed 90 of
them. Many of them are transparent i.e. their meaning can be had from the
constituents of the compound.

aRimukam
'introudction' + paNNu > aRimukam paNNu 'introduce'

aaraaiycci 'research'
+ paNNu > aaraaycci paNNu 'do research'

ottaacai 'help' +
paNNu > ottaacai paNNu 'help'

kalyaaNam 'marriage'
+ paNNu > kalyaaNam paNNu 'marry'

paNNu, like cey,
is also used with many English loans to form compound verb to fulfil the
immediate requirement of a speaker.

aTvais 'advise' +
paNNu > aTvais paNNu 'advise'

areenj 'arrange' +
paNNu > areenj paNNu 'arrange'

puk 'book' + paNNu
> puk paNNu 'book'

maark 'mark' + paNNu
> maark paNNu 'mark'

The use paNNu to form
new verbs by collocating it with boath native nouns and English loans promotes
it a productive verbalizer.

Verbalization bypaar

The parimary meaning of paar
is 'see'. A set of nouns collocates with with paar forming compound
verbs. Karthikeyan has listed only 10 compounds formed by making use of
the verbalizer paar. He has classified the activities denoted by
the compounds by taking into account the parts of the body related to the
activities.

Nouns related to eyes
+ paar

uLavu + paar >
uLavu paar 'spy'

etir + paar > etir
paar 'expect'

kuRi + paar > kuRipaar
'aim at'

veeTikkai + paar >
veeTikkai paar 'see (carelessly)'

Nouns related to
mouth + paar

ruci + paar > ruci
paar 'taste'

patam + paar >
patam paar 'try the tase; examine the fitness'

Nouns related to
hands + paar

pazhutu + paar >
pazhutu paar 'repair'

cari 'correctness' +
paar > cari paar 'chek'

Nouns related to
works

uttiyookam 'work' +
paar > uttiyookam paar 'be employed'

veelai 'work'
+ paar > veelai paar 'work; be employed'

KTTA has listed 17 which are
lexicalized to enter into the dictionary. Out of them 3 are formed by adding paar
to the pastparticiple form of a verb and rest are formed by adding paar
to nouns. Out of 14 N + paar combination, one is intervened by a case
suffix.

It is not clear whether paar
can be considered as a productive verbalizer. It is possible an N + paar
phrase or a Pastparticiple + paar phrase can be lexicalized to be
listed in a dictionary due to meaning specialization or extension or idiomatization.

Verbalization bypiTi

piTi is primarily used
with the meaning 'catch'. A set of nouns collocates with piTi to
form a number of compound verbs. Karthikeyan has listed 14 of them. According
to him piTi takes certain nouns denoting strong sentiments which are not
decirable to form compound verbs.

aTam + piTi > aTam
piTi ' be arrogant'

piramai + piTi >
piramai piTi 'become mad'

muraNTu 'arrogance' +
piTi 'be arrogant'

veRi 'madness' +
piTi > veRipiTi 'become mad'

He further declares that there
are certain nouns which when combined with the verblizer piTi, the
resulting actions of the compoun verbs indicate strong setntiments.

KTTA has listed 20 compound
verbs formed by the verbalizer piTi. Out of this 16 are formed by
N + piTi combination which are lexicalized to be entered in the dictionary
and 4 are formed by past participle form of a verb + piTi combination.

Pastparticiple form a
verb + piTi

eTTi 'having reached'
+ piTi > eTTip piTi 'reach out'

kaTTi 'having tied' +
piTi > kaTTip piTi 'hug'

kaNTu 'having seen' +
piTi > kaNTu piTi 'invent'

viTTu 'having left'
+ piTi > viTTup piTi 'allow a person to have his own way'

It is not clear whether piTi
can be considered as a productive verbalizer. It is possible an N + piTi
phrase or a Pastparticiple + piTi phrase can be lexicalized to be listed
in a dictionary due to meaning specialization or extension or idiomatization.

Verbalization bypuri

puri is primarily used
with the meaning 'do; perform' . As a verbalizer, it combines a set of
nouns froming compound verbs. The use of puri as a vebalizer is restricted
to written language only. puri is synonymous with cey in
this context. Karthikeyan has listed 18 compounds by collocating the verbalizer
puri with a set of nouns.

aruL 'grace' + puri
> aruL puri 'do grace'

aaTci 'rule' + puri
> aaTci puri 'rule'

uuzhiyam 'service' +
puri > uuzhiyam puri 'serve'

maNam 'marriage'
+ puri > maNam puri 'marry'

KTTA has listed only one compound
verb formed by combining the verbalizer puri with a noun.

paNi + puri >
paNi puri 'work'

It appears that the use of puri
as a verbalizer is no longer in vogue. cey takes the place of puri
for forming new compound verbs.

Verbalization bypeRu

The primary meaning of peRu
is 'get'. Karthikeyan has listed 18 compounds formed by combining peRu
with a set of nouns. According to him the verb takes nouns denoting certain
states other than psychological states.

uru 'shape' +
peRu > uruppeRu 'form'

pukazh 'fame'
peRu > pukazh peRu

Verbalization bypoo

The primary meaning of poo is
'go'. It comes under the semantic domain verbs of movement. It collocates
with a set of nouns forming compound verbs. With certain nouns poo
will imply loss of something. Karthikeyan has listed 6 compound verbs
formed by the verbalizer poo.

kaLavu 'stealing' +
poo > kaLavu poo 'be stolen'

koLLai 'robery' + poo
> koLLai poo 'be robed'

cooram 'adultery'
+ poo > cooram poo 'commit adultery'

KTTA has listed 22 compound
verbs formed by the verbalizer poo. Out of this 10 are formed by N + poo
combination which are lexicalized to be entered in the dictionary and
12 are formed by past participle form of a verb + poo combination. Among
the N + poo combination some of them carries dative case marker.

It can be inferred from the
above list that poo with certain nouns froms compound verbs and the
combination canmot be predicted. Similarly poo when cobine with
certain past participle forms of verbs get lexicalized due to meaning specification
or idiomatization. It appears that poo is not a productive verbalizer
which can form nonce compounds with nouns. But the potentiality of poo
combining with pastparticiple form of a verb to form compound verb by meaning
specification and/or idiomatization cannot be set aside.

Verbalization bypooTu

pooTu primarily means
'put;drop'. Like English put, it is a neural verb and get meaning specification
only by combining with nouns appearing in the object slot. Rajendran has
listed and classified the cominatory meanings of pooTu with different
nouns. Not all can be taken as compound verbs. For example,

Demarcating N + pooTu
as a compound and a phrase is not easy. One can see a gradation of formation
from phrase to compound. Karthikeyan has listed 24 compounds of the verbalizer
pooTu. He has classified the resultant compounds of pooTu
into those associated with noise and speech acts, hands, body and mind.

The classification the compounds
as those related to hands, body and mind do not serve any purpose, as many
action can be associated with hands, body and mind. KTTA has listed 56
compounds formed by the verbalizer pooTu which find their way into
the dictionary due to specification or idiomatization of the resultant meaning.
Out of them 8 are formed by the combination of past partciple form of a
verb with pooTu, one is formed by the combination of infinitive form
of a verb with pooTu and the rest 47 are formed by combining a noun with
pooTu. Among N + pooTu combination there are nouns carrying
case suffixes, espcecially locative il.

The compounds of pooTu listed
in KTTA reveal that a number of phrases got lexicalized due to meaing change
and idiomatization to find their place in the dictionary. pooTu
appears to be a potentential verbalizer as a number of compound verbs are
formed by making use of it.

Verbalization bymuuTTu

The primary meaning of muTTu
is 'make; cause'. Karthikeyan has not listed it as a verbalizer. KTTA
has listed only two compounds formed by the verbalizer.

Though only two forms have been
listed as compounds in KTTA, it appears that muuTTu has the potnetiality
to form compound verbs.

Verbalization byvaa

The primary meaing of vaa is
'come'. It falls under the semantic domain verbs of movement. Karthikeyan
does not list it as a verbalizer. KTTA has listed 16 compound verbs formed
by vaa. Some of them are formed by adding the compound verb koNTuvaa
with N inflected for dative.

It appears that vaa is not a
potential verbalizer. koNTuvaa appears to be a potential vebalizer.

Verbalization byvaangku

The primary meaning of vaangku
is 'get'. Karthikeyan has not listed it under verbalizer. KTTA has listed
10 compounds formed by vaangku. Two of them are formed by Past
participle + vaangku combination. Among compounds formed by N +
vaangku combination, some of the nouns carry the accusative case
marker ai or locative canse marker il. The formation of compound
verbs from the phrases of the type N + case + vaangku is a process
of lexicalization due to meaing specification and idiomatization.

N + vaangku

kaaRRu 'air' +
vaangku > kaaRRuvaangku 'enjoy fresh air'

vakkaalattu ' '
+ vaangku > vakkaalattu vaangku 'hold a brief for'

N + Accusative +
vaangku

uyirai 'life_ACC' +
vaangku > uyirai vaangku 'take a toll of life'

talaiyai 'head_ACC +
vaangku >

maanattai ' ' +
vaangku > maanattai vaangku 'cause or bring disgrace'

N + Locative +
vaangku

kaatil 'ear_LOC' +
vaangku > kaatil vaangku '

vangku does not appear
to be a potential vebalizer capable of forming nonce compound verbs.

Verbalization byviTu

viTu primarily means
'let out; let to go; leave'. It collocates with a set of nouns forming
compound verbs. viTu gives different shades of meaning depending
on the nouns with which it collocates (Rajendran, 1978: 326-331).

iTam 'place' + viTu
> iTam viTu 'leave space'

taNNiir 'water' +
viTu > taNNiir viTu 'pour water'

ampu 'arrow' + viTu
> amput viTu 'shoot an arrow'

muLai 'sprout' + viTu
> muLai viTu 'sprout'

Karthikeyan has listed 8 compounds
formed by the verbalizer viTu . According to him the nouns which collocate
with viTu to form compounds comprise of a set of nouns denoting
psychological actions, involving letting out of air, sound, etc and a set
of nouns denoting speech act such as invitation, announcement, etc.

Nouns denoting letting
out of air, sound, etc. + viTu

eeppam 'belch' + viTu
> eeppam viTu 'belch'

kuRaTTai 'snore' +
viTu > kuRaTTai viTu 'snore'

muuccu 'breath' +
viTu > muuccu viTu 'breathe'

ndooTTam 'sight'
+ viTu > ndooTTam viTu 'watch'

Nouns denoting speech
act + viTu

azaippu + viTu >
azaippu viTu 'invite'

aRikkai + viTu >
aRikkai viTu 'announce'

eccarikkai 'warning;
+ viTu > eccarikkai viTu 'warn'

cavaal 'challenge'
+ viTu > cavaal viTu 'challenge'

KTTA has listed 27 compound
verbs formed by this verbalizer. Out of this 18 are formed by the combination
type 'N + viTu', 8 are formed by the combination type 'Pastparticiple
+ viTu' and 1 is formed by the combination 'Infinitive + viTu'.

viTu appears to be a
productive verbalizer as it is capable of forming nonce compounds to fill
the new requirement. Also certain Past patciple + viTu combination has
the potential enough to get lexicalized by meaning specification and idiomatization.

Verbalization byvai

The primary meaing of vai is
'put; place'. It collocates with a set of nouns forming compound verbs.
vai also is a neutral verb and it get its meaning specified when it collocates
wtih nouns which appears in its object slot (Rajendran, 1978: 323-326).
Ofcourse, not all N+ vai combination can be taken as compound verbs.

taaTi 'beard' + vai
> taaTi vai ' keep beard'

paasam 'love' + vai
> paasam 'have love'

cooRu 'cooked rice' +
vai > cooRu vai 'cook rice'

ceTi 'plant' + vai
> ceTivai 'plant'

viiTu 'house' + vai
> viiTu vai 'construct a house'

paaTTu 'song' + vai
> paaTTu vai 'tune for song'

pangku 'share' + vai
> pangku vai 'share'

tii 'fire' + vai
> tiivai 'burn'

Karthikeyan has listed 7 verbs
formed by the verbalizer vai. A set of nouns which imply 'depositing
as security for repayment' collocates with vai to form compound verbs.

aTamaanam 'pledge' +
vai > aTamaanam vai 'pledge'

aTaku 'pawn' + vai
> aTaku vai 'pawn'

iTTu 'pawn' + vai
> iiTu vai 'pawn'

paNayam 'pledge'
+ vai > paNayam vai 'pledge'

KTTA has listed 35 compound
verbs formed by the verbalizer vai out of which 19 belong to the combination
'N + vai', 13 belong to the combination 'Pastpartciple form + vai', and
3 belong to the combination 'Intitive form + vai'.

vai
appears at the outset that it is not a productive vebalizer; but vai
has the potential to form nonce compounds when N + vai, Pastpartciple +
vai and Infinitive + vai get lexicalized due to meaning specialization and
idiomatization.

7. Conclusion.

Tamil builds up its stock of
verbs, not by suffixation but by compounding a noun with a verb, which can
be called as a verbalizer. Suffixation which was a process in the formation
of verbs in the past is no longer in vogue now. Tamil has only a limited
number of basic verbs or simple verbs. During its days of contact with
Sanskrit, Tamil was piling up its verb stock by borrowing verbs from Sanskrit.
It made use of a process of reduction and suffixation by which it converted
the Sanskrit nouns into verbs (Example: pirayaaNam ‘travel (N)’ +
i > pirayaaNi ‘travel’). When the borrowing from Sanskrit to
Tamil is discouraged, Tamil resort to coin new verbs by the process of compounding.
The N + V combination is a productive process of forming new verbs from
the already existing stock of verbs and nouns. Interestingly, not all the
verbs can be used as verbalizers to form compound verbs. Tamil has made
use of only a handful of verbs, say nearly 40 verbs, as verbalizers. Some
of verbalizers are productively exploited, whereas some are not exploited
to that extent. Generally the verbs of neutral type or unspecified type
such as cey ‘do’, aTi ‘beat’, iTu ‘put’ pooTu ‘put’,
etc. are manipulated as verbalizers. Some of the vebalizers are still used
as verbalizers productively and some have ceased to be used as verbalizers.
The verbalizers come handy while making verbs from English. The degree
by which the nouns and verbs of N + V combination are cohesive vary from
tightly held to loosely held. The combination swings between a compound
and a phrase. Most of the by-products of this combination get lexicalized
and thus find their way into a dictionary. The combinatory meaning vary
from transparent to idiosyncratic. The constraints involved in the combination
are difficult to be accounted by rules.